What motivates this school critic?

Friday

Feb 15, 2013 at 3:15 AM

While local control of public education rules the day, it's with federal and state tax dollars in which they do so. This makes local school decisions everyone's business, whether they live thirty five miles away or three thousand miles away.

Speaking out against malfeasance found in public schools, even when that malfeasance endangers children's safety or wastes millions of tax dollars, comes with its own perils. I was not afraid.

My tenure as a professional educator at Newmarket Jr. / Sr. High School, and it's in awe specious ending, has never been a secret. At the time of my removal I went to Foster's and provided them with the story regarding my removal, which was published.

Foster's readers will, and should make their own assumptions of what motivates any writer to write an article. This is part of good reading.

Example: After reading Mr. Parsons's recent article, I am free to contemplate what, if any, relationships he may have, or had, with the Newmarket School District which may have prompted him to write his article attacking me. This is what good readers do.

Regardless of motivations, anyone who is willing to openly put themselves out there seeking accountability for public school teachers, administrators and elected officials involving possible wrong doing, is going to face personal attacks.

While I am prohibited from discussing the case I brought against the Newmarket School District and Teacher's Union, Mr. Parson's is correct, much of the case is available as a matter of public record maintained at the Newmarket Town Hall Clerk's office, PELRB, DOL, NH Supreme Court, and Attorney Discipline office.

I encourage anyone who may be interested in determining what my possible motivations may be in writing letters and commentaries concerning Newmarket to explore these records and formulate their own opinions.

One of two possible motivations should present themselves to the explorer: either I have an ax to grind, as put forth by Mr. Parsons, or, I am an individual with the temerity to take a stand in favor of students, parents, and taxpayers regardless of the personal cost to my career, name and family.

I am of the opinion writers should write about what they know best and that which motivates them. For me, it is education, right to know laws, and accountability for public officials.

Newmarket school officials and the teachers union may have ended my professional education career, but they can never end my desire for a safe environment for its students and honesty for the residents.

While Mr. Parsons is free to characterize my writings as fiction, baffling and conspiratorial, they are not.

It would have been helpful for the readers, if Mr. Parson provided some specific examples of the fiction, baffling or conspiratorial comments he alleges I have made.

Whether I am writing about Dover, Newmarket or Barrington, my resources are public documents and audio visual recordings publicly available.

The conclusions I draw are not motivated by retaliation or any ax to grind, which Mr. Parsons believes, but rather, are drawn from the facts themselves and their importance to the public.

The one crucial fact Mr. Parsons relies upon, (a deadline allegedly from the State Fire Marshal's Office to conform or NMJSHS will be closed) I cannot locate and do not believe exists.

I am aware however, of a document between the local Fire Chief, Rick Malasky and Superintendent, Hayes regarding this issue, but not one from the Fire Marshal. I give no credence to the letter between these two men based upon the facts.

After visiting the Fire Marshal's office and reviewing documents contained there concerning Newmarket, I was unable to locate any such condemnation of the school by the Fire Marshal.

In fact, as previously written by me, the last time the Fire Marshal visited the school was in 2004 in which he only found housekeeping issues and none of the violations currently being cited as justification for closing the school.

I have recently asked the Fire Marshal's office to look into all that has transpired regarding alleged fire and life safety issues at NMJSHS and the decision to put locks on the doors come 2015.

Hopefully, for all concerned, we will get to the bottom of this issue soon.

As disappointing it may be to Mr. Parsons and others, I intend to continue writing on issues I believe are of concern to all of us, and I am extremely thankful and appreciative to Foster's editorial staff for publishing my articles.

For the record, only a school board may dismiss a teacher. I was never, ever, dismissed by the Newmarket School Board.

Additionally, on file with both the PELRB and Department of Labor is my sworn affidavit disavowing each and every one of the ridiculous allegations made against me in Newmarket. No one has ever accused me of lying.